T-Shirts Only

The bass shook the floor. Soft screeches I could not place permeated the air of Max Fish basement noise show. The young man had brown hair — your standard pretty white guy type. He bobbed his head to the noise. His powder blue tie was loose enough so he could feel the full sway of his head side to side and his grey suited shoulders, back and forth.

Amidst the black blouses, ripped tights, t-shirts and leather coats worn in for 20+ years, my friends and i looked in his direction benevolently amused, “how did he end up here?”

I started to sweat. When Hatch gets employees …we’re going to have to start dressing “professionally” again... I shuddered at the thought.

The office jobs we grew up being trained to want required this — restrictive suits and ties for the men, ladies squeezing into skirt suits. Leather shit on feet that never quite feel right. You needed to fit in to get to the top. Look the same as everyone else if you even want a chance.

Luckily, in the world of advertising — we don’t have those same pressures. Looking different is an asset but, that doesn’t mean the pressure to look a certain way doesn’t exist. You need to stay polished, in fashion — wearing cute black ankle boots, long wavy t-shirts, and whatever else mannequins are wearing in soho storefronts.

The moment I quit to pursue Hatch full time, I felt an immediate release.

I don’t have to dress to impress — the only thing I need to show up is my will to work, and passion to pursue the right answers.

Getting investment doesn’t just mean maybe I can quit 1 of my 3 jobs, it means I can employ others who share the same vision that we do. We can provide others with an environment that encourages them to show up however they need to be productive, pursue fulfillment.

I want you to be able to show up to work, feeling comfortable that when you leave to go to a noise show in a LES basement bar you’re wearing exactly what you want to (which might very well be a suit).

So, wear your favorite t-shirt till it’s in shreds. Show up to the office a bit sweaty from the bike in. Get that tattoo you’ve been dreaming of. At Hatch, we don’t give a fuck.

As long as you are a productive psycho like the rest of us. Happy as hell doing good.

All of this worthless if you’re not enjoying the ride. So, don’t show up to work unless you’re ready to be 100% true to you. Fake you probably sucks anyway.